Apparatus for separating articles into groups by weight

ABSTRACT

A continuous column of articles, which are individually non-uniform in weight, is divided into a series of column segments each of which has a uniform predetermined weight. The articles in the continuous column are fed by an infeed conveyor onto an intermediate conveyor one at a time. The belt of the intermediate conveyor is carried by the platform of a scale so that the cumulative weight of the articles on the intermediate conveyor is monitored. When the weight reaches a predetermined value, a pusher is activated to push the group onto an outflow conveyor which is parallel to the intermediate conveyor and is driven in the opposite direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the weighing and grouping of articles,and, more particularly, to apparatus for dividing a continuous column ofarticles into column segments of uniform weight.

In the manufacture of cookies, the dough pieces and the baked cookiesare arranged on conveyor belts in continuous rows which extend axiallyalong the belts. During the manufacturing process, the product piecesare carried in turn by a number of conveyors, each conveyor maintainingthe cookies in unbroken columns. Cookies which are by nature of uniformweight can be packaged automatically by machinery which counts out apredetermined number of cookies from an edge stacked column andautomatically transfers that group of cookies into a package which isautomatically passed through a sealing mechanism. Since the individualcookies are of uniform weight, packages containing a uniform number ofcookies will likewise be of uniform weight.

Those cookies which are not of uniform nature, such as chocolate chipcookies, are conventionally packaged in two ways. They can be packagedloose in random orientation in either bags or boxes or they can bestacked in one or more columns within a package. The packaging of bagsor boxes with randomly oriented cookies is easily accomplished bycurrently available fully automated machinery. However, considerabledifficulty is experienced in filling packages to a predetermined weightwith stacks of cookies, where the individual cookies vary significantlyin weight. It has been necessary to package such cookies manually toinsure that the package weight meets but does not greatly exceed thedesired weight. The normal practice has been to shingle the continuouscolumns of cookies so that they overlap each other, and to stationworkers alongside the conveyors to count off and pick up groups ofcookies and manually stack the cookies in the packages. The number ofcookies designated for each stack was selected so that the packageswould normally tend to be somewhat below the desired weight. Thepackages, still open, are then transferred to another station where asecond operator weighs the package and adds an additional cookie if itis necessary to bring the package up to the listed weight. It has beenfound in actual practice that the operators do not count off the rightnumber of cookies for each stack; the stacks sometimes containing toomany and at other times, far too few cookies. The operation at thefollowing station is therefore slowed down. The second operator insteadof merely checking the scale to see whether a single cookie must beadded, has to add or subtract a number of cookies on a trial basis whichcan be time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provideapparatus for facilitating the packaging of articles of non-uniformweight.

Another object is to provide apparatus for automatically weighing andgrouping such articles.

Another object is to provide apparatus for separating a column ofarticles on a conveyor into spaced groups, each group being ofsubstantially equal weight.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by providing apparatus comprisingan infeed conveyor, an outflow conveyor, an intermediate conveyorparallel to the outflow conveyor and positioned to receive articles fromthe infeed conveyor, means for weighing the articles on the intermediateconveyor, and pusher means responsive to the weighing means fortransferring all the articles on the intermediate conveyor onto theoutflow conveyor when the weight of articles on the intermediateconveyor reaches a predetermined value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for the purposesof illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of apparatus according to the presentinvention for separating articles into groups of substantially equalweight.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view in section, taken along the line 2--2on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an end view taken from the right hand end of the apparatus asshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the input/output end of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the weighing and transferring end of theapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 on FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 on FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 on FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 on FIG. 6.

FIGS. 11, 11a, and 11b are sequential top plan views showing theoperation of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown apparatusaccording to the present invention contained within a frame generallyincluding an infeed conveyor 10, an out flow conveyor 11, anintermediate conveyor 12, a scale comprising a weigh head 14 and aplatform 15, a pusher arrangement 16, and a packaging table 17.

The infeed conveyor 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes a belt 18,a driver roller 19, idler rollers 20 and 21, a tensioning roller 22mounted on a spring loaded lever 23, and a noser plate 24. The noserplate 24 is mounted to a vertically moveable plate 25 that is supportedby a bolt 26 and a block 27. The block 27 is mounted on a frame plate 29which extends along the rear edge of the intermediate conveyor and alsocarries the scale and the pusher arrangement. The noser plate 24 iselevated and extends over the input end of the intermediate conveyor.The roller 19 is chain driven by an electric motor 30. The rollers 19-22are mounted on a rear vertical plate member 28 (FIG. 3).

The intermediate conveyor 12, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10,includes a belt 31, a pair of nose bars 32 and 33, a drive roller 34,and a pair of take-up rollers 35 and 36. The take-up rollers 35, 36 aremounted on pivoted arms 37 and 38 which are biased inwardly by a spring39 (FIG. 3) extending between the arms to press the rollers against theouter surface of the belt 31.

The noser bars 32 and 33 are mounted on a vertical frame plate 40 (FIG.9). The roller 34 and the pivoted arms 37, 39 are mounted on a generallypentagonal plate 41 which is mounted in an opening 42 in the frame plate40. The plate 41 is formed with a pair of notches 44. The roller 34 ismounted on the front surface of the plate 41. The arms 37 and 39 aremounted on the rear surface with the rollers 35 and 36 mounted on shafts45 that extend through the notches 44 from the arms 37, 39.

The scale platform 15 is positioned between the nose bars 32 and 33 withits upper surface aligned with those of the nose bars. The weigh head ispositioned over the center of the platform which is suspended from theweigh head by a bifurcated arm 46.

The pusher arrangement 16 includes a plate 47 which extends along therear edge of the belt 31 throughout the entire length of the scaleplatform 15. The pusher plate 47 is suspended on a pair of rods 49 thatextend through the frame plate 40 and are positioned in axial bearingassemblies 50 mounted on the frame plate 40. The rods 49 are positionedat the ends of the pusher plate 47 and are equally spaced from the weighhead. An air actuator 51 (FIGS. 1 & 6) is mounted on the plate 40directly below the weigh head. The air actuator 51 has a piston rod 52connected to the pusher plate 47 to move the plate transversely acrossthe belt 31. A bar 54 is mounted on the plate 47 and extends rearwardlyover the top of the plate 40. A cam block 56 is fastened on the end ofthe bar to operate a switch 57 mounted to the rear face of the plate 40.The switch 47 is operated as the air actuator completes its extensionstroke.

The flow of pressurized air to the air actuator is controlled by asolenoid-operated two position valve 59 mounted on the rear side of theplate 40 (FIG. 3). This valve is connected to a source of pressurizedair (not shown). In one position the valve 59 connects the pressurizedair source to the actuator so as to extend the piston rod 52. In theother position, the valve 59 connects the pressurized air to theactuator to retract the piston rod.

The weigh head 14 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 59.When the weight on the platform 15 reaches a pre set valve, the head 14produces an electrical impulse which operates the valve 59 to extend thepiston rod 52. The switch 57 is also electrically connected to the valve59 and, when the rod 52 is fully extended, the switch 57 produces apulse which reverses the position of the valve 59 and retracts the rod52.

The out flow conveyor 11, as shown particularly in FIG. 1, includes abelt 60, an end roller 61, a driven end roller 62, two idler rollers 64and 65, and a tensioning roller 66 mounted on a spring loaded arm 67.The roller 62 is driven by a belt 69 from an electric motor 70. Therollers 61 are mounted on a front plate member 71 on one end of theapparatus and the rollers 62 to 66 are mounted on a second front platemember 72 on the other end of the apparatus.

The front and rear vertical frame plates are secured to a base platemember 74 and the entire apparatus is supported by a pair of pillars 75.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a packaging table 17 is mounted at the lefthand portion (as shown in the drawings) of the conveyor 11 for use by aworker who manually packages each column of articles.

In operation, a series of articles (for example, chocolate chip cookies)are deposited upon the infeed conveyor 10 as shown in FIG. 11. Thearticles are transferred from the conveyor 10 onto the conveyor 12 whichis driven at a slower speed to cause the articles to be deposited on theintermediate conveyor 12 in an overlapping or shingled condition.

When the column of shingled articles reaches a predetermined weight, thescale weigh head 14 sends an electrical pulse to the two positionsolenoid valve 59. The valve 59 operates to connect the air actuator 51to the pressure source so that the piston rod 52 extends. The pusherplate 47 moves the column of shingled articles onto the outflow conveyor11. As the pusher plate reaches the end of its stroke, the cam block 56operates the switch 57 which sends a second electrical pulse to thesolenoid valve 59. The valve 59 reverses its position and connects thepressure source to the actuator 51 so as to retract the piston rod 52.

The outflow conveyor 11 carries the weighed column of shingled articlesto the packaging table where the column is manually loaded into apackage.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present inventionaccomplishes the objects of the invention stated herein before.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for separating a column of articles ofnon-uniform weight into groups of equal weight comprising an infeedconveyor, an outflow conveyor, an intermediate conveyor for receivingarticles from the infeed conveyor and positioned side by side with saidoutflow conveyor, means for weighing the articles on said intermediateconveyor, pusher means responsive to said weighing means for sliding allof the articles on said intermediate conveyor onto said outflow conveyorwhen the total weight of the articles on said intermediate conveyorreaches a predetermined weight, said outflow conveyor and saidintermediate conveyor being driven at different velocities to spacesuccessive groups of articles on said outfeed conveyor.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said outfeed conveyor is driven in thedirection opposite to the infeed conveyor.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said articles are substantially flat and saidintermediate conveyor is driven at a slower speed than said infeedconveyor to position the articles on the intermediate conveyor inoverlapping relationship.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein saidweighing means includes a platform attached to a scale and theintermediate conveyor includes a conveyor belt which lies on saidplatform.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pusher meansincludes a vertical plate member extending along said intermediateconveyor and normally positioned on the side of said intermediateconveyor away from said outflow conveyor and means for moving said platemember across the surface of said intermediate to said outflow conveyorto push the articles on the intermediate conveyor onto the outflowconveyor in a group.